Ask Yourself These 3 Important Questions Before Starting A Home Garden

A simple browse online on Pinterest or Instagram will prove that truly, indoor plants are in. Plants not only cause serious health benefits; they also beautify any space, breathing new life into it. But creating a garden in your home is no easy feat—it requires plenty of responsibility and care, because plants are living things that require constant upkeep, regardless of how low-maintenance they may be. So before you pay a visit to your nearest plant store, ask yourself these three questions to help you determine whether being a plant parent is a good, practical idea for you.

1. “Does my home get enough light?”

IMAGE Hans Fausto

When it comes to growing plants indoors, light should be a topmost priority. Yes, there are plants that can grow even in dark places, but even they need to get some light. Without light, plants will not be able to photosynthesize, therefore hindering them from being able to manufacture the nutrients they need to grow well. If your home does not receive enough light, your garden will only end up deteriorating.

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Thankfully, there is an easy way to evaluate if your home gets enough light. Open the camera on your phone and unfocus it. Turn it towards your window, and if the rest of the room appears nearly black, that would mean that you can place your plants in a window or as close as possible to it.

2. “How often will I be able to care for my plants?”

IMAGE Michael Angelo Chua

Being a plant parent requires a lot of time, effort, and responsibility. So, before you even start planning out an indoor garden, think carefully first: Will you be able to allot ample time to care for your greens or not? Consider how much time you can spend at home, how often you will be traveling, etc. Not all plants are the same; there are some varieties that require more tending, and including those in your garden will mean that you will also need to portion more time for caring for them. If you decide to start your own garden, go for plants that will be more practical for you and the kind of lifestyle you lead.

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3. “What do I want out of this plant?”

IMAGE Kurt Alvarez/ACME Visual Productions

In the era of social media, indoor gardens truly are trendy, as they are a great way to make a home look more stylish and cool. But keep in mind that when buying plants, you should be thinking about more than just the number of likes you’ll collect on Instagram or Facebook. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, plants also possess a lot of benefits to our health and wellness. Choose your plants based on what you want them to do for your home, whether that’s improved air quality, a boost in focus and productivity, reduced levels of pollution, or others. Better not put any plants in your home if you’re only after the coolness factor but do not have enough time to actually tend to them.